ERIC Number: EJ1475175
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-May
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-2322
EISSN: EISSN-1468-3148
Available Date: 2025-04-30
Safer Online Lives: Internet Use and Online Experiences of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities--A Survey Study
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, v38 n3 e70061 2025
Background and Aims: The internet and social media are increasingly accessible to people with intellectual disabilities, offering significant benefits but also posing unique challenges and risks. This study aimed to explore the online experiences of adults with intellectual disabilities in England. Methods: An accessible survey was conducted from July 2021 to July 2022 collecting data on online risks, perceived benefits and barriers to internet use. Results: Amongst 115 participants, 74% reported using the internet daily, and 48% used social media every day. Participants who reported more frequent engagement in cyber-aggression were significantly more likely to also report experiences of cyber-victimisation. Conclusions: The findings highlight the evolving use of the internet for adults with intellectual disabilities and the factors that influence their online experiences. They emphasise the need for strategies to enhance safe internet use and inform social care practices aimed at fostering positive online experiences whilst mitigating risks.
Descriptors: Internet, Social Media, Intellectual Disability, Adults, Computer Use, Affordances, Barriers, Bullying, Computer Mediated Communication, Victims, Foreign Countries
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Tizard Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK; 2Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK